Door check



March 7, 1950 G. VITHACAY, JR

DOOR CHECK Filed June 6, 194

F'IG. 1

I N VEN TOR.

I 620/266 [THACA ATTD R N EYS Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE DOOR CHECK George Ithaca, .ln, Burger, Tex.

Application June 6, 1946, Serial No. 674,736

1 Claim.

The invention relates to a door check, and more especially to a traveling door stop or holder.

The primary object of the invention is the pro-- vision of a door holder of this character, wherein the weight of the door is materially relieved of strain on its hinges, thus making the said door more easily opened and closed, and additionally the said holder functions to maintain the door in a closed position, as well as automatically closing it after opening thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a door holder of this character, wherein on the opening of the door the holder becomes spring tensioned so that the door will automatically close itself, thus in this manner be maintained in normal closed position or condition.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a holder of this character, wherein the sagging of the door is relieved, as the Weight thereof at the latching edge is transmitted to the holder, and the latter travels with the door during opening and closing movements thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a holder of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, strong, durable, readily and easily mounted on and removable from a door, it being automatic in the working thereof, and is inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the features of construction,

combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a horizontally swinging door showing the holder constructed in accordance with the invention applied with the door in closed position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the holder detached from the door.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view partly broken away, through the holder.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a slight modification.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the holder constituting the present invention, comprises an upset substantially U-shaped bracket forming a hanger frame it, which at the cross intermediate connecting portion is fastened to a door, only a portion thereof at the lowermost end being indicated generally at H, by fasteners, not shown, which are passed through clearances l2 thereafter to have the lowermost edge of the frame substantially flush with the bottom edge of the said door.

In the end branches or cheeks l3 of the frame I0 is journalled a horizontally disposed axle M, on which is fixed a rubber tired traction wheel l5, adapted for rolling contact with a flooring or foundation, a part thereof being indicated at it, the axle 14 next to the wheel l5 plays in a vertical slot ll formed in the branch or cheek I3 adjacent to the said wheel, so that the latter has a limited vertical displacement due to any irregularity in the floor or foundation surface with which it contacts during the opening and closing of the door.

Contact is constantly maintained by the wheel l5 with the flooring or foundation by a spring tensioned runner l8, which has its foot l9 in engagement with the axle i i and slidably fits the slot ll directly above the axle, as at 2B, the tension on the runner being had by a tensioning spring 2! mounted on a guide 22 which is fiXed t0 the bracket or frame Hi, as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawing.

Loose on the axle i4 is a spring winding cog gear 23, which has a spanner wheel 24 integral therewith for the winding of a coiled tensioning or winding spring 2'5 about the axle M, the spring being fixed at 26 to the gear 23 and at 21 to the traction wheel l5, so that when the door is opened this spring is wound placing a tensioning action of the said wheel l5 so that when the door is freed after opening thereof it will be automatically closed by the said wheel l5 contacting and rotating on the flooring or foundation.

The gear 23 is engaged by a ratchet acting pawl or dog 28, which is pivoted at 29 to the bracket, and. in this manner the spring 25 can be held under tension or wound for the automatic closing of the door as before described.

In Figure 4 of the drawing there is shown a slight modification wherein a plunger 30 has a foot 3| contacting the axle l4, and this plunger is tensioned by a coiled spring 32 acting thereon to maintain the foot 3| constantly in engagement with the said axle for assuring contact of the wheel l5 with the foundation or flooring at all times under limited vertical play of this wheel. Th wheel [5 carries the load of the door at its free latching edge.

What is claimed is:

A holder of the kind described, comprising a traction wheel for mounting on a door at the free side edge thereof, for traction engagement with the floor, on the swinging of said door, a shaft for said wheel, a coil spring sleeved on the shaft and active on the wheel and tensioned thereby on the opening of the door for the automatic closing of the latter on the freeing of the latter at an open position, a hanger frame for supporting the wheel upon the door at the opening side thereof, said hanger frame having an elongated slot therein for rotatably mounting one end of said shaft, a pressure member carried by said hanger in vertical relation to said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France June 17, 1915 Number 

